Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 29926, Abel Ginings, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Ginings, Abel Jinnings or
S 29926
CONTENTS

1887 Feb 25 Henry Corbett with history Pres
176 Hampden date of death not on A3
15 186 Massachusetts
Abel Ginnings of Hampden in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain May of the Regt commanded by Col. Dorr in the Mass line for 10 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 33 - Dollars - 33 - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15 th day of Aug 1833 and sent R.O.C.
Mrs. Springfield Mass Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $66.66 Semi-ant. allowance ending Dec 1833 16.67 $83.33
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by N. H. G. [Signature] Clerk, Book 2 Vol. 2 Page 38

8332
Abel Jennings
Prints 10 Mints
14 ob
March 20 1833
P. 304
Re Morris Springfield Mass.

BRIEF in the case of Abel Jennings of Moosehorn  Hampden in the State of Maine (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Seventy four years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days. As a Gen.     enlisted In 1779 Feb _____ 2 _____ _____ Capt Munn   " " " May _____ 2 _____ _____ Capt May Col Hall   " " 1780 July _____ 6 _____ _____ Capt Stoddard, Col Rose  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Moosehorn  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 4 paps signed by him offery 7th Oct 1780. David Mirtu pany the Comp. service, 5 Coalsy pany the Comp. with Capt May. Stephen Nemell also pany the Comp. service, and the Comp. service with Capt Munn.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
OKuth Examining Clerk.

8332.
Abel Jennings
Declaration with the
Disposition of Daniel Wright Shubael Wales Stephen Newell & a wife

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Hampden ss.
On this Eighth day of August in the year of Our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty two personally appeared in Open Court, before me Oliver B Morris Judge of the Court of Probate within and for the said County of Hampden now sitting at Springfield in said County. Abie Fanning a resident of Monson in the County of Hampden Commonwealth of Mass ts aged Twenty four years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his Oaths make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7. 1832 That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That in the Month of February in the Year 1877 he enlisted in the Massachusetts State troops at Monson under Capt. Reuben Munn Lt Hoar and Ensign Hitchcock Marched from Monson to Fingerroga in the State of New York the term of his enlistment was two months - that he was then Stationed at Fingerroga about two months and was there discharged some time the latter part of April in the same Year that Stephen Newell of Milbraham was in the same company and served the same time and he offers the Deposition of said Newell which is herunto annexed to prove said Service
That in the same year of 1877 he again enlisted in the Massachusetts Militia for two months and marched from Monson about the first of May in the same Year for Fingerroga in a Company under the following named Officers Capt. Nehemiah May of Holland Lt Jonathan Brown of Springfield in the Regiment then commanded by Col Hale that the company remained at Fingerroga during the Months of May & June and were discharged at the expiration of two months. unconditional Shabuel Males was a Soldier in the same Company and served at the same time and offers Deposition of said Males which is herunto

annexed the offers in evidence to substantiate his declarations Gen St Clair was Commander of the forces at that time Gen c Poor was there also -
In the year 1780 he again entered in the United States Army in the Continental line for six months and then became to Springfield  and then to Boston at Springfield Mass ts on the thirty first day of July and Marched from Springfield to Danbury Cant t under the direction of Sergeant Elyson from Danbury they Marched to Pickett Hill from Pickett Hill to Orangetown and was placed in a company under the command of Capt t Arning Stoddard in the Regiment commanded by Col t Joseph Vose; from Orangetown were Marched to a Place call Piranvi a in New Jersey and remained in New Jersey for the most of the season, in the fall of the same year were Marched to West Point. Soon after they arrived at West Point the forces & British came up and drove away a band of Cattle and a party of which he the said Jennings was one went after them and rescued the Cattle remained at West Point until February 1781 and was then discharged. Having served full six months that he recd a discharge but the same is lost but that he has found among his papers a copy signed by his Captain & Colonel which is herunto annexed and that he has no other documentary evidence except the Depositions of Daniel Martin and Stephen Newell which are herunto annexed which he offers in evidence to substantiate his own declarations. Gen c Greene commanded the Brigade Gen c Arnold turned Easton during the time of his last mentioned Service. May Andrew was executed at that time, and that he was present at their execution that he often saw General Washington.
That he was born in Holland Massachusetts and has resided in Monson ever since he was twelve years old - That he knows of no record of his age. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on any Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
Abel Jennings

I Stephen Newell of Wilbraham in the County of Hampden & commonwealth of Massachusetts testify & say that Abel Jennings of said Monson County & state aforesaid was a private soldier in a com- pany of regular troops in the United States Service in the revolutionary war that he belonged to a company commanded by Capt. Orinagh Stoddard in Col. Joseph Vose, Regiment & that he served in the state of New Jersey and at West Point N.Y. full six months in the year 1780 & was discharged Stephen Newell
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss. }
Subscribed & sworn
July 4 th 1832
before William S. Burt Justice of the Peace
I further certify that the above named Stephen Newell is a man of truth & veracity & a credible witness, & that his statement is entitled to full credit William S. Burt - Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss. I John Ingersoll a Clerk of the Common Pleas Court being a Court of Record in the County of Hampden do hereby certify that William S. Burt Esq. before whom the above & annexed deposition was executed is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Hampden & that I believe his name thereto subscribed to each of said depositions to be his true & proper signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Common Pleas Court for said County at Springfield on this eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two
John Ingersoll Clerk

Mr. Abel Jennings base

I Stephen Newell of Wilbraham in the County of Hampshire & commonwealth of Massachusetts testify & say that Abel Gurnings of Morrison County & State of Iowa was a private soldier in a regular company of regular troops in the United States service in the revolutionary war that he belonged to a company commanded by Capt. Reuben Munn I being in the same company with said Gurnings that he served full two months at Ticonderoga N.Y. & was discharged in the year 1777
Stephen Newell
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Hampden ss.
Wilbraham 4 th July 1832
Then personally appearing Stephen Newell Subscribed to the above deposition made oath to the truth of the same before
William S. Bent Justice of the Peace
I further certify that the above named Stephen Newell is a man of truth & veracity & a credible witness & that his statement is entitled to full credit William S. Bent Justice of the Peace

I Shubael Hales of Hales in the County of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts testify and say that Abel Ginnings of Monson in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, served as a private soldier in the Revolutionary war at Piconderoga two full months May & June AD 1779. Under the command Capt Nehemiah May of Holland & Lieut. Jonathan Bizon of Benfield. And I the said Shubael Hales served as a soldier the same time in the same company being the same time that Piconderoga was evacuated - Shubael Hales
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss Hales August 6 1832 Then Personally appeared the above named Shubael Hales and made oath to the truth of the above Certificate by him subscribed before me Alfred Needham Justice of the peace I further certify that the above named Shubael Hales is a man of truth and veracity in a credible witness, and that his statement is entitled to full credit Alfred Needham Justice of the peace

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss. I John Ingersoll a Clerk of the Common Pleas Court being a Clerk of Record in the County of Hampden do hereby certify that Alfred Readham Esq. before whom the within deposition was executed is a justice of the Peace for the County of Hampden and that I believe his name thereunto subscribed to be his true & proper signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Common Pleas Court at Springfield on this Eighth day August in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and thirty two
John Ingersoll Clerk

I Daniel Mixter of Monson in the County of Hampden and commonwealth of Massachusetts testify and say that Abel Jennings of said Monson County & State aforesaid was a private soldier in a company of regular troops in the United States service in the revolutionary war that he belonged to a company commanded by Capt. Orringh Stoddard in Col. Joseph Vose's Regiment I was in the same company with the said Jennings that he served in the State of New Jersey & at West Point full six months in the year 1780 and was discharged.
Daniel Mixter
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss. Wales 3 rd July 1832
Then personally appearing Daniel Mixter Subscriber to the above deposition and made oath to the truth of the same before me.
John Smith Justice of the Peace I further certify that the above named Daniel Mixter is a man of truth and veracity and a credible witness and is entitled to full credit.
John Smith Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss. I John Ingersoll a Clerk of the Common Pleas Court being a Court of Record in the County of Hampden do hereby certify that John Smith Esq. before whom the above deposition was executed is a Justice of the Peace for the County of Hampden and that I believe his name thereunto subscribed to be his true & proper signature
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the said Common Pleas Court at Springfield on this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty two
John Ingersoll Clerk

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the abovenamed Applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & record as he states - having first investigated the matter & put the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department.
I Justin Willard Register of the Court of Probate within & for said County of Hampden do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Abel Ginnings for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this eighth day of August in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty two Justin Willard Register his

29 9 26 INVALID. Reo y
File No. 29,926
Abel Jennings 211 Rev War
Act: June 19 34
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 211
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Ginings, Abel Mass. S 29926

Permit the Braves Steel Ginings to Pass the Guard and Return this Day at Four O'clock Camp Oct. 22 d 1880
Orinagh Standard Capt. Joseph Vos Colo

8332
Abel Jennings
Richd D Morris Esq Springfield Mass

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Abel Jennings which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yy II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yy III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? _____ IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yy V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yy VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yy VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yy VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yy IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yy X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yy

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? yes XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? no Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? answered
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
† QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡ QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Abel Jennings 8,29926
Report from General Accounting Office (by Mr. Manning) Aug. 1939, was that this Abel Jennings or Jennings' pension was last paid March 4, 1837 to L. Norcross, atty., for the soldier, receipt dated April, 1837, to cover period from Mch. 4, 1836 to Mch. 4, 1837. Date of death of soldier not shown. He was of Monson, Mass.
I believe that he was the husband of Mary Jennings, former wid. of Jesse Davis, R. 3971. I have no definite proof.
When the record of this sol- dier is requested, send the Jesse Davis, also.
MTB aug. 1939

In his declaration for a pension dated in Augt 1832 he stated that he was residing in Mission Hampden Co Mass age 74 years. He was born (no date given) in Holland Mass & has resided in Mission ever since since he was 12 years old & knows of record of his name.
While residing in Mission he enlisted in Feby 1777 to serve a tour of 2 mos under Capt Murnit again another tour of 2 mos from May 1 1777 under Capt Nicholas May of Holland & was stationed in both tours at Piccadilly NY where Genl St Clair was in Command during his last service. From about Augt 1 1780 to he served an enlistment of 6 mos joining Capt Stoddard Co in Colo Vose Mass regt at Orange Town NY & remained in NY until fall when he was marched to Westpoint NY & discharged in Feby 1781. He was present at the execution of Major Andre for his complicity

In the treason of Genl Benedict Arnold

Alma City Minn. Jan 26/87 W. Black W. S. Pension Commissioner
Dear Sir
I want to know whether Able Jennings was a native of the U. States or of England. He served in the Revolutionary war and received a Pension till he died. lived at Munson Springfield Co. Mass. at that time. Which must be about 50 years ago. If you have any records in your office with regard to it, Please give me the desired information, It is quite important to me
Very Respectfully Henry Converse Alma City Waseca Co. Minn.

Henry Covette Mem Ry Jan'y 26 1887 Abel Jennings Mass.

FIRST DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FEB 19 1887 U.S. PENSION OFFICE.

If I can find the place of his birth I can get his fathers name. Now if you will please look this affair up I will willingly accept pay you if you will accept it for it is of great value to me
Yours Respectfully Henry Courrre

Old war Div Inj. Ex'r.
No.
Co. Reg't
Return this letter with your reply.
pm Sir,
Department of the Interior PENSION OFFICE
Washington, D.C.
January 24, 1887
In answer to your enquiry of the 26 th ult, addressed to the Hon, J. B. Wakefield, by him referred to this office, for information of Abel Jennings, a Revolutionary soldier from Massachusetts, I have to state that after a careful examination his name has not found on the records of this office
Very respectfully
Am B. McLean
First Dep. Commissioner
Mr Henry Converse Alma City Waseca Co Min n

Alma City, Minn.
Feb. 14, 1887
Mr. M c Lean
Dear Sir
Please excuse me for writing again. My grandfather Jennings was a soldier. He lived in the town of Hanson Mass the county seat was very young when he died. I am now somewhere from fifty years ago. He drew his pension on his death bed. I think he must have been in the year of 1812. I wish to get the place of his birth. I heard my father say there was no other Jennings in that county. Soon after his death news came there was a large fortune left him by his forefathers in England. My father's health was poor at the time and was not able to do anything about it. Now I see Jennings' fortune advertised again.